RAILWAY WORKSHOPS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 412, 22 January 1909, Page 7

RAILWAY WORKSHOPS.

THE ADOINCTON CONTROVtRSY. ALLEGED "GOVERNMENT STROKE." (BY 'TEWSGBAFK-raESS tSSOCUTION'.) Christchuroh, Jannary 21. : "I look' upon Addington Workshops largely in the light of a warming bed or a Convalescent home for scores of men who ■we able to bring their political influence to bear, , - , .-'said a Ghristchurch gentleman : interested in tho engineering trade .to a "Press" representative-,yesterday.- -His opinion was shared by several others. AH agreed that the country was not getting value for the monerit cost to run and maintain, not only the shops at Addingtou, but those in other parts of the Dominion. It was contended that, work cost from 15 to 30 per cent, more to turn out under present conditions at Addington than would be the case • if ,private iirms were to undertake similar tasks. , Further tlian that, Complaint was made that although theso expensive establishments were owned- by the people, and were supposed, to bo run for the people,, there was no means bf ascertaining tHe.-relation between the value and. the cost of the output. .. '.-..■''• :•-■:. One gentleman stated. that for. tho most part.the piaiit at Addington.was much>behind: the times, that it was 'probably up to , date twenty years ago, but that little attempt had: sjnee been made U> ■ instal ' the newest- labour-saving devices which were especially numerous and effective nowadays. / : Another expert' declared that the plant had been kept fairly up to date, but. that most of the/discarded and unused appliances. wore still taking up floor space,, no attempt being. made, ■• as' would bo the case with a private individual or'flrm, to get-rid of the incubus of old machinery and turn it into money.. ...' .-•- ,/..,,,..,.' "There is:not the slightest doubt .about it," one said, "the men at Addinj'ton do move about their work in a. leisurely fashion. I would not say that there is deliberate loafing for a' moment,' but you know '.the trend ■ of things : that -, goes Von when/ men. are • working for the Government or a local bodj'i The tendency is always to take things comparatively easy; to do what is commonly known'as a/fair thing and no more.' The tronble is that nobody is directly, financially concerned in the cost of a particular job to object very' strongly ,to the Eastern, and then on top of that you have political/influence everywhere. What. real, authority' has a" foreman or a manager: who sacks.a , man only to find him put on again perhaps in a better position next day? Many of these, men, -who have what: is -called ; a pull, trade On the fact for all they are worth. They know, that if they get into trouble they have only .to twist a member's tail to come out/of it,again with;flying colours. Proper discipline is impossible under,such conditions, and it should be a matter for no surprise to discover that those , in chargo get tired of kicking against the'pricks;/.and that they finally, settled down to take things .'as. they find: them... If theVState'goes in. for .commercial.; enterprises: it should run-, them on business lines, and get the fullest value out .of every single penny that is spent.. ; ,That is; not' being dono now by any means, but all the same the popple,.whose money is at. stake, are entitled'to see' that it is done." ■ : Further inquiries, elicited quite a number of other interesting facts and.opinions.'. If was . mentioned, for example, .that many, years ago tho Industrial Association approached the Government for information re--garding—(l) Thovalue of the. land; (2) the buildings;, and (3) the;' plant at Addington Workshops. In regard to'the first question, it was stated that no , valuation of the land had ever been made* and'a subsequent question on the point to Parliament was shelved. attempt was made froin that day to. this to,answer the other,(two.- It was the practice, it was understood, to frame the stand-/ ing charges on' the ; workshops property (de•preciation of plant and'buildings,: etc.) on a' ■basis of o per'oiait.;;.Private firms .allowed: fromls to 20 per cent,, and'did not find that ■mafgin any. top. high. . Concrete instances of the expensive character of work done under the Government's,.auspices, were ascertained,. One of/the most, glaring of those (which- oc-' ;curred, it is. only fair-to" add, a; considerable" .number of years'ago),:;had 'to/'dd'-'withTtKe' conversion", of six. locomotives'from'.'one ■ ty.po;to..anotlieh The work is said to have' cost £1300 per engine.: New locomotives: 6i • the. desirod type would have been: imported' for- £1600 a piece,, and 'thus, .with the ex-' penditure of. £1800 more than / the cost. of conversion, the. Government would liavehad twelve engines instead of six, and half of them brand .hew. ; '■" ■. ; /. \ : \ ■ '<•■■

HILLSIDE WORKSHOPS,

:.,;.: an iNQmßy;asked for; ;\. ; : ; ■: /' (Br TELKGBirH— PHBS9USSOCUTIOS.) .. '■ ■•;■'.■''■■ V . ■.'■'-.• ..■-•;■ Biuriadin, January 21.- ;■_. At a meeting of the Otago Boilermakers , ' , Union last night, .the allegations concerning : •!Goveniment stroke" methods.at Addington workshops were discussed, particular reference being made to a statement that the work at./the Hillside shops and-at Potone : was done cheaper than'at'Addington. It is learnt that, in, December a "letter, was sent to'. t,h© local union/from' the ..Canterbury Boilormakors! Union alleging . that boilermakere , work,.was .being done ■by labourers at Hillside; and asking' the union to. investigate the matter. The 'inspector has.not the right- of. : entry, of .Government., workshops, but tho ■irnibn believes there is'truth- in the allegation conta-inedin/the Canterb'Ury union's .letter, and/ifi such is the /case this would'to some extent explain why work can bo done "cheaper at Hillside, .labourers' wages naturally .being lower than tradesmen's. . No action was taken at'-the. time of/the'reo/eption- of: : the letter, asithe, union wished to-wait until a new. ■Minister for... Railways had 'been- appointed. 'Members -further took exception -to: the indefinite nature; of tjie.,'charges laid particularly to the. reference that a "five' minutes ■periiivet for/new rivets is a ;oase in, point." In some'classes of,work it'was. .said,: five' minutes.a: rivet would be good workjandj it .sometimes takes longer in boiler work, and it was /contended that the .expert who.matle the charges should have specified under ,wh;vt conditions the work he referred to was dono. It.was decided to .forward the>letter : to the' Minister,for Railways asking that a full iuguiry be' mado into the allegations concerning Hillside. •'• '. ■■'•" .'. . / ,::"■ .